Brave the Storm (La Familia Series #1)

Chapter 25

The lights were all turned off when I arrived at our house, sabagay hating gabi na rin kaya tulog na siguro silang lahat. I was mindful with my every move, not wanting to make any noise. I was about to ascend the stairs nung mapansin ko na bukas ang ilaw sa common bathroom. Agad akong naglakad papunta doon, thinking that mom have forgotten to switch off the lights, but I was flabbergasted by the scene in front of me.

It was dad... and he was curled up on the bathroom floor. Anguish etched all over his face. I felt my whole body shuddering, my mind blacked out, and I can't... move. I didn't know how long I was standing there doing nothing when dad met my gaze, he was in serious pain but no such thing can be seen in those orbs, and that snapped me back to reality.

I hurriedly went to him, "D-dad, can you hear me?" and he barely nodded at me. I helped him to sit up and started checking his vitals. My hands were trembling while doing so, but I braced myself.

'This is your dad's life on the line, Kirsche. Better do your job properly!' I reprimanded myself.

"From 1-10, daddy gaano kasakit?" I asked.

"N-nine," hirap na hirap niyang sinabi.

"Kaya mo bang tumayo at maglakad, dad?" at tumango siya sa'kin, "Okay, aalalayan kita. I need to get you to the hospital now, okay? Please bear with me, dad."

Dahan-dahan ko siyang tinulangan tumayo at kung wala ang suporta ko ay baka kanina pa bumagsak si daddy. Para siyang lantang gulay at kanina pa nagbabadya tumulo ang mga luha ko pero pilit kong pinipigilan. Hindi ako pwedeng magpakita ng kahinaan ngayon, not when daddy needs me.

"Careful, daddy," at maingat ko siyang inupo sa loob ng kotse. Ako na rin ang nag-ayos ng seatbelt niya dahil hindi na talagang magawang kumilos ni dad.

"Onting tiis pa, dad," at agaran kong pinaharurot ang kotse ko.

While we're on our way to the hospital agad kong tinawagan ang emergency at sinabing maghanda ng stretcher at abangan kami sa labas, kaya naman pagkadating na pagkadating ko nailipat na agad si daddy sa stretcher.

"What happened to him?" I was shocked to see na si Cove ang kasama ng mga nurse pero nakabawi rin agad ako dahil nabaling kay dad ang atensyon ko.

"Naabutan ko siyang nakahiga sa bathroom floor, namimilipit sa sakit ng tiyan. He said it was nine in terms of intensity," agad na tumango sa 'kin si Cove at sumabay sa pagtulak sa stretcher habang chini-check si dad.

"May iniinom ba siyang gamot?" tanong sa 'kin ni Cove.

"Wala. Healthy si daddy pero nung nakaraan the same situation happened to him pero hindi ganito kalala. He said na diarrhea lang daw yun." Hindi ko alam na I was biting my nails and tapping my foot in nervousness, "Let me check him up, Dr. Hernandez," I said at agad na nag-sanitize ng kamay at nagsuot ng medical gloves. I was about to get a stethoscope when a hand stopped me from doing so.

"Hindi puwede, Kirsche. Maupo ka nalang diyan at kami na ang bahala sa daddy mo," pero hindi ako kumbinsido sa sinabi niya at tinitigan ko siya ng masama.

"Bitaw," pero hindi man lang siya natinag sa titig at tono ng boses ko.

"No, you're emotionally invested on this case," but I didn't back down. Pwersahan kong tinggal ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa braso ko pero hindi man lang siya gumalaw.

"Ano ba, Cove?! Namimilipit sa sakit ang daddy ko kaya hayaan mo akong gamutin siya! I am a fucking doctor!" I shouted in frustration. Wala na akong pake sa paligid ko.